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Participant Interaction: From Online Forums to Virtual Communities of Practice

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Online Citizen Science and the Widening of Academia

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Alternative Education ((PSAE))

Abstract

Online citizen science projects offer opportunities for collaboration both between citizen scientists and professional scientists, and between groups of highly engaged citizen scientists. Each of the projects selected as case studies provide opportunities for collaboration which are described in detail. In some instances, these collaborative groups form online communities of practice, where newcomers learn from more experienced participants, and where there is evidence of informal learning of the science relating to the project. Projects with complex project tasks and those that facilitate online communication or have a competitive element appear to be more likely to foster the development of such communities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Vickie Curtis

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  1. Vickie Curtis
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Curtis, V. (2018). Participant Interaction: From Online Forums to Virtual Communities of Practice. In: Online Citizen Science and the Widening of Academia. Palgrave Studies in Alternative Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77664-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77664-4_7

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-77663-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-77664-4

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

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